Critic’s Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
3.5
For once on NCIS: Origins, the call was coming from inside the precinct. Lately, the series has been introducing well-crafted self-contained episodes to the season, and it is paying off.
How do you keep an episodic police procedural from getting stale? You take a deeper dive into the characters audiences see in just about every episode. It creates a fresh perspective while giving viewers a chance to get to know supporting characters more intimately.
For one, I thought for sure this was the episode of NCIS: Origins where we were finally going to see Mary Jo knock the block off someone. You would be completely justified in assuming that’s where that one scene was headed.
“Touchstones” worked hard to let viewers know they were in store for another heart-wrenching episode by having Mark Harmon kick things off with a rather grim fairy tale, pun intended.
From there, it was one heavy moment after another with Mary Jo infusing the episode with her trademark quick wit and passing digs.
NCIS: Origins Is Giving Every Character the Family Treatment, Which Makes “Touchstones” All the More Painful
All in all, this episode wasn’t too far off from NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 10 with Gibbs’ surrogate big sister, Ruth. In “Blue Bayou,” the series took a look into Gibbs’ past to reveal a character who had a monumental impact on Leroy.
In “Touchstones,” the series gave the same treatment to a character that’s been around since the pilot. However, like everyone else who isn’t Mike, Gibbs, or Lala, Kowalski is just now getting a spotlight thrown on him.
Maybe I’m just a softy, but Kowalski’s backstory was soul-crushing. I can’t be the only one who was tearing up at the character’s backstory that broke him and the literal rock that kept him going.
It looks like Gibbs isn’t the only broken man on NCIS: Origins. Then again, with how he’s actively pursuing Lala, I’d say his wounds have finally healed, for the most part.
One thing NCIS: Origins has accomplished is opening its little, confined world up at the precinct.
Instead of confining Michael Harney’s (Project Blue Book) Kowalski’s character to a random face that pops up from episode to episode, the series is utilizing the resources at its disposal.
Meaning that rather than using a parade of easily forgettable characters that are only around for a few episodes, NCIS: Origins is going the family route and making every character, whether main, supporting, or recurring, a fundamental aspect of the story.
One Thing “Touchstones” Accomplished Is That It Showed Just How Much We Don’t Know About the Other Characters Around Mike, Gibbs, And Lala
The only question now is, are we going to see more of this newly introduced character, Dalton, that has been conveniently stashed away from the rest of the bullpen?
Then there is Gail, who made her NCIS: Origins Season 1 debut appearance in “Blue Bayou” and is already receiving shade from Mary Jo. That’s just a rite of passage.
Still, the writers never miss a chance to have Mary Jo deliver iconic lines like, “You keep on going through life with zero common sense, Gail. Let me know how that works.” Is it any wonder Mary Jo is the reason the wheels keep turning at the NIS?
It seems like every character at the precinct got a piece of the pie in NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 12, with a spotlight thrown on even Wheeler and his firm grip on the NIS.
Judging by Mike’s reaction, Wheeler must be known for putting his foot down from time to time – something Franks finds all too funny.
It wouldn’t hurt NCIS: Origins to give audiences a look into Wheeler’s past. It’s a little odd that we know just about nothing of the Special Agent in charge.
Then again, jumping from one character to another in this episode led to solving a case that was way too close to home.
It’s Fair to Say Mary Jo Had Homicide in Her Eyes When She Confronted Roger
Granted, apart from the odd comment by Mary Jo or Franks (Kyle Schmid), Roger had been mostly a passing thought on NCIS: Origins, so it wasn’t devastating to find out he was a dirty, thieving little rat.
I can’t imagine that did much for the morale at the NIS, but it did give viewers a truly memorable chain of events.
First, Roger admitted to what he did, then why he did it, and finally, what he exactly did. That despicable man tried to turn little Mildred over to a hitman.
The look on Mike Franks’ face said it all. He was truly floored and looked like he was ready to clutch his pearls. Raise your hand if you cheered when Franks let Mary Jo into the interrogation room so she could have a private conversation with Roger.
There better be a flashback or something because I NEED to know what went down in that room. Even if it’s just Mary Jo cussing Roger out, I will get my popcorn and enjoy every single second of it.
I need to see Tyla Abercrumbie’s (The Chi)Mary Jo take off her earrings and heels so she can teach the NIS’ dumbest former employee a lesson.
However, beyond all of the craziness, one thing in particular from this episode stood out the most.
NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 12 Showed That Sometimes the People Who Need the Most Saving Are the Ones Closest to You
Is it me or is Lala no longer aggravating? I can’t tell if it’s been slowly building or just out of nowhere, but for some reason, her character seems really likable all of a sudden.
Maybe it’s because of all the insanity she experienced with Gibbs on NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 9, but she no longer feels so out of place on the show.
Suddenly, she has a good head on her shoulders regarding her personal life and is owning up to her mistakes. She seems ready to actively put the pieces of her life back together and I am all for that personal journey.
It’s so refreshing to see characters who acknowledge that they aren’t in a place to take on a relationship rather than forcing characters together so they can “fix” each other.
I gave the show a lot of grief throughout NCIS: Origins Season 1 for trying to push Gibbs and Lala together, but it’s finally paying off.
While there is currently no over-arching plot for the series, at least we can say that if Lala and Gibbs (Austin Stowell) end up together, it will make sense as he’s no longer dealing with his losses, and she isn’t on a self-destructive path.
As much as viewers love a little drama, we usually prefer good things to happen to characters we like, which is why nothing better happened to Randy. I can’t go one episode of NCIS: Origins without his adorable smile flashing through the precinct.
Even though the series has certainly had more intense and exciting episodes, this was a nice installment that brought things back home and showed that sometimes the people who need saving are the ones closest to you.
A little tough love goes a long way. Just don’t ask Mary Jo to be the one to deliver it because, as she told Mike Franks, “Honey, it’s going to get mean, and I ain’t mean.” Cut to her ready to stick one of her stiletto heels right through Roger’s eye.
With how tame this and NCIS: Origins Season 1 Episode 11 was, I’d venture a guess that the series has something cooking for the episodes leading up to the season finale.
It could be anything and everything at this point, but you already know TV Fanatic is going to be right beside you enjoying the heart-wrenching roller coaster ride that is CBS‘s NCIS: Origins.
If nothing else, can we please finally find out what the hell happened to Tish that made Mike Franks of his lady even more protective than he already is? Let’s take care of these loose ends already.
How do you feel about Gibbs and Lala now?
Where do you think the story is going to go with no specific plot currently in place?
Please drop a comment below to let me know what you liked about this episode, and join me again when I review another episode of NCIS: Origins!
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